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Thomas Leroy Pickett

Age : 66

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 02/16/2026

Location : West County Road

City : Sugarloaf Township

County : Luzerne

State : Pennsylvania

Agency : Sugarloaf Township Police Department / Pennsylvania State Police

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during traffic stop

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 02/16/2026 around 9:30 p.m., a Sugarloaf Township Police officer attempted to stop a vehicle on West County Road. The vehicle did not immediately yield but then voluntarily stopped after approximately two miles. During the stop, the male driver exited the vehicle, retrieved a long gun, and advanced toward the officer’s patrol vehicle, firing multiple rounds and striking the patrol car. The officer returned fire, striking the 66-year-old driver. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant. No officers were injured. The Pennsylvania State Police Troop N Major Case Team is investigating the officer-involved shooting with the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office.

 

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/carbon-county/traffic-stop-leads-officer-involved-shooting-luzerne-county-sugarloaf-state-police/523-b6f03c44-0f90-4168-bf8e-3a6654d4d083
https://www.timesleader.com/news/1732961/fatal-officer-involved-shooting-in-sugarloaf-township
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxJasnHkro8